Office record devices



June 11,1957 WELLS I 2,795,205

OFFICE RECORD DEVICES Filed June 25 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l James 17 5t.

14 Main St L' .2 .22 2o;0 1zr352425 T u I 4 TTO/PNE VS June 11, 1957 R. E. WELLS OFFICE RECORD DEVICES Filed June 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 11: 0. J0

. INVENTOR ROY/5'. WELLS BY $404,,MYQM,

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United States Patent Ofiice 2,795,205 Patented June 11, 1957 2,795,205 i oFF'icE RECORD DEVICES Roy E. Wells, Jamestown, N. Y., assignor to Art Metal Construction Company, Jamestown, N. Y.

Application June 25, 1954, Serial No. 439,272

7 Claims. '(Cl. 116-135) This invention relates to oflice record control devices, and more particularly to improvements in such devices as are adapted for progressive signalling purposes.

It is of course known that various progressive signalling techniques have been adapted with success to certain oflice record devices such as name sheets and form sheets upon which'various data are entered and upon which movable the form of flattened tubes which may be conveniently fabricated of Celluloid or other transparent plastic material, or the like; The tubes 18 are so dimensioned lengthwise as to be adapted to be laterally flexed and slip fitted at their opposite ends under the flange devices 16-16 so as to be thereupon maintained by the flange devices in racked relation upon the panel 15. The tubes 18 are vertically dimensioned so as to be adapted to accommodate in slip-fitted relation therein corresponding index slips as indicated at 20 (Figs. 2, 9); the index slips 20 being conveniently formed of paper or the like so as to be readily adapted to receive printed or typewritten indicia such as shown for example at 22 and at 24. The indicia 22 illustrates by way of example a list of customers names and addresses, while the indicia 24 indicates by way of example day calendar numerals.

A sliding signal arrangement in accord with the present invention is provided in conjunction with an elongated cut-out portion 25 in the form of an open window through signal devices are arranged for subsequent call-up purposes or the like. However, it is an object of the present invention to'provide an improved index slip enclosure and sliding signal arrangement, overcoming certain difl'iculties and disadvantages associated with devices of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide improvements as aforesaid facilitating accurate use of such devices while at the'same time further simplifying the construction and reducing the cost of such devices.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a presently popular swinging panel type index file embodying the improved index slip enclosure and sliding signal arrangement of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of an index component of the device of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is'a view corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing a modified form of sliding signal device;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the device of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Figs. 3 and 4, but incorporating still another form of sliding signal device;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the device of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 isa sectional view corresponding to Figs. 3, 4, 6,

but showing still another form of sliding signal device of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the device'incorporating the sliding signal device of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a front elevational veiw of a presently popular so-called pocket type card form holder incorporating an index strip enclosure and sliding signal arrangement of the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of the index strip enclosure component of the device of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Figs.- 3, 4, 6, 8 of another application of the invention.

' By way of example the invention is illustrated in Fig. -l as being embodied in connection with a so-called swinging panel typeindex device comprising a back plate 15 formed of sheet metal or the like and margined at its opposite side edges by means of overhanging flange portions 16-16. The panel is arranged to be hung upon a stand by means of hinge tabs 17. Thus, the panel 15 and the flange devices 16--16 cooperate to provide a framelike structure into which may be slip-fitted a stack of index slip enclosure devices 18 which are preferably in the front surface of each tube 18 throughout the area of the indicia devices 24. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the sliding signal device comprises a sheet of colored Celluloid or plastic slip-fitted inside of the tube 18 and having its major body portion disposed in front of the index slip 20 thereof. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when viewed from the front of the device the signal device 30 overlies the index slip, and the longitudinal disposition of the signal device indicates and signals any desired relationship between the corresponding index name and the calendar numeral disposed beneath the signal device 30. Thus, for example, in the form of the device shown in the drawing, the signal device 30 is adapted to visibly signal at a glance the day upon which some business operation in connection with the corresponding index name is due for attention.

As shown in Figs. 2-3, the signal device 30 includes upper and lower end portions which are bent around the corresponding upper and lower edges of the corresponding index slip and terminate in flange portions lying against the rear surface of the index slip as indicated at 32.- Thus, the signal device 30 is guided to maintain the upright attitude shown in Fig. 2, while being in free sliding relationship upon the index slip 20. The front portion of the signal device 30, in the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is formed with a ridge or roll portion 35 shaped to extend outwardly through the open window 25 of the tube 18, in order to provide a protrusion which may be manually manipulated by the index file attendant for shifting the signal relative to the calendar indicia devices 24. Thus, it will be appreciated that the sliding signal 30 of Figs. l-3 comprises a device of utmost constructional simplicity while being at the same time rugged and mounted infool-proof free sliding relation within the corresponding tube 18. The overlapping top and bottom edge portions of the signal device frictionally engage the corre sponding index slip as well as the interior of the corresponding tube, and therefore the signal device resists accidental shifting thereof, while being at the same time readily adjustable with improved facility to any desired position relative'to the indicia carried thereon.

Figs. '4 and 5 illustrate another form of the signal device of the invention, wherein the front surface portion of the signal member 30 is outwardly dimpled as indicated at 36 so as to protrude through the open window'portion 2-5 of the tube 18. Thus, it will be appreciated that the protruding dimple portion 36 is disposed so as to be readily available for manipulation by the file attendant for movement of the signal to any desired position relative to the numerical indicia devices 24. Figs. 67 illustrate still another form of the signal device of the invention wherein the front surface portion thereof is centrally apertured as indicated at 38 in registry with the openawindow portion 25 of the tube 18. Thus, it will be appreciated that a pencil point or the like may be thrust into the aperture 33 whereupon lateral pressure applications thereon will cause the signal device 30 to slide to any desired. adjusted position relative to the numerical indicia devices 24, as explained hereinabove.

Still .another jform of the sliding signal device of the invention is illustrated by Figs. 8 and 9 wherein the signal member is designated 4t) and comprises a strip of Celluloid or plastic sheet material or the like, bent so as to encircle the upper and lower edges of the corresponding indexslip and the rear surfacethereof, while terminatingat its opposite ends in front of the index slip.

One end portion 42 of the signal strip 40 is bent outwardly so as to protrude through the open window 25 tending tab portion 42 to protrude. so as to be readily available-for pressure applications thereagainst toslide the signal strip 40 in either direction to desired adjusted positions relative to the numerical index devices of the index slip, as explained hereinabove.

Figs; 10 and ll illustrate another example of application of the sliding signal device of the invention to a pocket type card holder device as designated generally by the numeral 50. As is well known in the art such holder devices are customarily provided with transparent Celluloid or plastic tips such as is illustrated at '2, stapled along the bottom edge of the holder 50, as by means of staples designated 53-53; Fig. 12 illustrates application of the invention to a printed form 70. The lower edge of the form sheet 70 is folded forwardly and upwardly as indicated at 74 (Fig. 12), interiorly of the tip device 52; the upper, front edge of the tip device being folded over and downwardly behind the folded portion 74 of the form sheet so as to lock the tip device 52 in operative position. In such case the desired indicia may be simply typed or written or printedon theouter face portion of the tab 74 so as to be visible through the transparent tube-52p Or, in the alternative the bottom edge of the card 50 need not be turned up as at 74 and in lieu thereof a separate index slip may be inserted in the tube to occupy the position of the tab 74.

In either case the front wall portion of the tube memher is apertured as indicated to provide. an elongated window running lengthwise of the index panel portion withinthe tip device, and a sliding signal device of the invention is arranged in conjunction therewith as indicatedat 60. As shown, the sliding signal comprises a strip of colored Celluloid or plastic sheet material having its front central portion folded or dimpled or otherwise deformed as explained hereinabove so as to protrude outwardly throughthe window portion of the tip member 52 as indicated at 62 in the drawing. Thus, the protruding signal portion 62 is. readily available for manual manipulation by the file attendant for shifting the sliding signal device to any desired position relative to the indicia on the index panel portion .at the bottom of the holder card, as may be required.

Although only a few forms of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: w

1. An index device comprising, an elongated transparent reference tube having disposed therein an index slip carrying index indicia thereon, said tube being slotted longitudinally at a front face portion thereof, and a sliding signal device com-prising a strip of sheet material extending transversely of and around said index slip in slidably embracing relation therewith interiorly of said tube, said signal device frictionally engaging the interior of said tube to resist accidental shifting and having engagement means in registry with. said slotted portion of said tube forengagement from externally of said tube by manually controlled means to selectively slide said signal devicewithin said tube to various adjusted positions relative to said indicia.

2. An index device comprising a transparent reference tube having disposed therein an index slip carrying index indicia thereon, said tube being slotted at a front face portion thereof, and a sliding signal device comprising a strip of sheet material slidably embracing said index slip interiorly of said tube and having a looped portion thereof extending out through said slotted portion of said tube for engagement by manually controlled means for forcing said signal. device to slide laterally within said tube to various adjusted positions relative to said indicia.

3. An index device, comprising a transparent reference tube having disposed therein an index slip carrying index indicia thereon, said tube being slotted at a front face portion thereof, anda sliding signal device comprising a strip of sheet material slidably embracing said index slip interiorly of said tube and having a dimpled portion extending out through said slotted portion of said tube for engagement by manually controlled means for forc ing said signal device to slide laterallywithin said tube to various adjusted positions relative to said indicia.

4. An index device comprising a transparent reference tube having disposed therein an index slip carrying index indicia thereon, said tube being slotted at a front face pontion thereof, and a sliding signal device comprising a .stripof sheetmaterial slidably embracing said index slip interiorly of said tube and having a perforated portion in registry with said slotted portion of said tube for engagement by manually controlled means extended through said slot for forcing said signal device to slide laterally within said tube to various adjusted positions relative to said indicia.

5. An index device comprising, a transparent reference tube having disposed therein an index slip carrying index indicia thereon, said tube being slotted at a front face portion thereof, and a sliding signal device disposed within said tube comprising a strip of sheet material wrapped around the opposite side edge portions of said index slip so as to be slidably mounted thereon interiorly of said. tube, the overlapping edge portions of said signal device frictionally engaging the corresponding por tions of saidindex slip and of the interior of said tube to resist accidental shifting, and said signal device having a portion protruding through said slotted portion of said tube for engagement exteriorily of said tube by mann ally controlled means to selectively slide said signal device within said tube to various adjusted positions relative to said indicia.

6. An index device comprising, a transparent reference tube having disposed therein an index slip carrying index indicia thereon, said tube being slotted at a front face portion thereof, and a sliding signaldcvice disposed within said tube in frictional engagement with the interior thereof and comprising a strip of sheet material slidably embracing said index slip interiorly of said tube, an end portion of said strip extending out through said slotted portion of said tube for engagement by manually controlled means exteriorly of said tube to selectively slide said signal device within said tube to various adjusted positions relative to said indicia.

7. An index device comprising an elongated reference tubepof, transparent material, an index slip having indicia thereon disposed within said tube, means defining a longitudinally elongated slot through a front face portion of said tube, and a signal device slidably disposed within said tube comprising a strip of transparent material extending across the rear face portion of said index slip and having opposite edge portions bent around the opposite side edge portions of said slip in slidably embracing relation therewith, said opposite edge portionsof said strip frictionally engaging said index slip and the interior of said tube to resist accidental shifting of said signal device relative thereto, and the opposite end portions of said strip terminating at the front face portion of said slip 1,170,298 Lundy -n Feb. 1, 1916 with One of said strip and portions being bent outwardly 1,269,151 Baylay June 11, 1918 through said slot and comprising a tab portion disposed 1,711,981 Andres May 7, 1929 exteriol'ly of said tube for being manipulated to selectively 2,732,822 Cassady Jan. 31, 1956 shi-ft said signal device within said tube relative to said 5 FOREIGN PATENTS ind ex shp 567,362 Germany Dec. 31, 1932 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 956,175 RiCCkhOfi Apr. 26, 1910 10 

